Minnesota Wild: Mike Yeo wants to see 'pack-of-wolves mentality'

Jake Dowell and Columbus center Cody Bass fight in the first period of a Sept. 17 exhibition game at Xcel Energy Center. (Pioneer Press: John Autey)

DULUTH, Minn. -- Five days after Wild players failed to respond physically to David Backes' big hit on Jason Pominville in a preseason game against the St. Louis Blues, coach Mike Yeo made it clear that isn't the reaction he's looking for this season.

"Head-on (hit) or not," Yeo said, "I definitely would like to see us respond a little more."

The Wild have their first chance in Thursday's season opener, with Dustin Brown and the Los Angeles Kings coming to Xcel Energy Center. Brown's elbow to Pominville's face kept the Wild forward off the ice for the final two regular-season games and three playoff games because of neck soreness and a concussion. Brown was suspended two games for the hit, but referees did not call a penalty on the play during the game.

"I'm not going to let you turn that into a story line," Yeo said. "We've got too much of a focus on the start of the season. ... I'm not going to focus on that right now."

But Yeo isn't one to forget big hits, especially when his team doesn't respond.

Speaking about the Backes hit, Yeo said, "Let's not for a second pretend that we've forgotten about that or that that's not a huge priority for our team."

He said Wild players need to develop a mind-set of surrounding players targeted for big hits and respond appropriately.

"We have to have an attitude that's a pack-of-wolves mentality that if you mess with one, we're all in there for each other," Yeo said. "Because as long as the game has existed, (standing up for teammates has been a part of it.

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) And when somebody does that for you, it's amazing what it does to the group. It's part of the game, protecting each other and battling for each other."